Fancy a day filled with filmmaking magic, spellbinding special effects and more behind-the-scenes secrets than you can shake a wand at? Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is the perfect treat. Hannah and Becky Cheetham share their experiences
For Hannah Cheetham, who has always been a big Harry Potter™ fan, a trip to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London makes for an “incredible” day out. “Seeing all the magic come to life!” she enthuses. Hannah loves adventures and trying new things but, as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, she finds some places aren’t as accessible as they could be. That wasn’t the case with the Studio Tour though. Hannah was joined by her sister Becky, who has ADHD, to explore the attraction.
“We had great first impressions in terms of accessibility,” Hannah says, via her communication device. “There was a smaller and quieter queue. The entrance is spacious and they have a big Changing Places bathroom, which has a hoist and changing bed if you need it. It was a great start!” Becky agrees, saying: “In terms of accessibility, it was very good. They had headphones I could borrow, and the staff were on hand if needed.”
LOSE YOURSELF IN MAGIC
And what about the filmmaking magic? “Oh, it’s all incredible!” enthuses Hannah. “If you’re a big Harry Potter fan, you’ll absolutely lose yourself in this world. We went during the Triwizard Tournament feature, and the first dragon chase is projected onto the Hogwarts model. Amazing!” The sisters got to see the real sets used in the films up close, and Hannah explains: “There are so many props, sets, wigs, costumes and behind-the scenes videos, all explaining how Harry Potter was brought to life – like the secrets of how the flying broomsticks worked, and how the Quidditch™ scenes were filmed. It was so magical to see.”
They visited Gringotts Wizarding Bank™ and boarded a wheelchair accessible viewing carriage to experience a green screen Hogwarts Express™ photo opportunity. Because they’re original set pieces, some areas – like the Knight Bus™ and the Hogwarts Bridge™ – aren’t accessible to wheelchair users, but some innovative solutions have been developed to open up the Studio Tour experience.
ACCESS
Hannah shares one of her highlights: “There’s a bit where you can fly on a broomstick in front of a green screen, and the staff take your photos and a video. But what was really cool was that they have an accessible broomstick. I stayed in my chair, and they put half the broomstick behind me and half in front, so I could have the same opportunity as everybody else – that definitely exceeded my expectations.” The sisters also enjoyed another photo opportunity at the green screen on the accessible carriage near the Hogwarts Express. “The staff took videos and photos as many times as we wanted to make sure we were happy with them,” says Hannah. “I think it’s fun that they bring it to life for you,” adds Becky.
Before their trip, Hannah and Becky downloaded the accessibility guide from the website: “It’s very detailed and pretty much answers everything you need to know,” reveals Hannah. The guide highlights what’s available for people with accessibility needs – from digital guides that bring the Studio Tour to life for people with hearing impairments, to Tactile Tours developed with Guide Dogs, for people who are visually impaired.
The Studio Tour offers sensory rooms and sensory support bags, plus Relaxed Tours which allow fans to enjoy the experience with reduced visitor numbers, changes to lighting, and quieter sound levels. The Hub Café, Food Hall and Frog Café, along with the Backlot Café off er a range of options for people with food sensitivities and allergies, and you can even try Butterbeer™, which is vegan, and made without gluten, wheat and nuts. Assistance dogs are welcome, and one free carer can be admitted (with proof of entitlement) for each paying disabled visitor.
Becky adds that there are plenty of staff on hand too: “The staff were lovely, and always around to help. There was a queue to get into the first part, so we asked if there was an alternative way round, and the staff member took us through a side door.”
MAGIC AWAITS
There’s always lots going on at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. From 12 September to 9 November, visitors can enjoy a Dark Arts experience, with more than 100 pumpkins floating above a sweet feast in the Great Hall, processions of Death Eaters™, and iconic sets from the Harry Potter film series in a spookier setting. Between 15 November and 18 January visitors can enjoy Hogwarts in the Snow, with the Great Hall stage transformed for the Yule Ball, and the Forbidden Forest and Hogwarts Castle model both dusted with filmmaking snow, using the same techniques from the Harry Potter film series.
If you want to enjoy the magical experiences on offer, Hannah and Becky recommend choosing a quieter time to visit – the first and last tours of the day are usually the quietest. “Check out the website beforehand because it is very detailed for every different access need,” advises Becky.
“Seeing the films come to life was just incredible,” smiles Becky. “It’s just a magical place.”